BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Less than a week after the historic ouster of the Venezuelan leader, protests continue locally.

One rally, held by the Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern (LEPOCO), took place at West 4th St. and Wyandotte St. in Bethlehem.

LEPOCO, joined by members of the Democratic Socialists of America, exercised their freedom of speech to protest American actions in Venezuela. 69 News reporter Rick Holmes talked with them about what they would like to see next. Rick also talked with one Venezuelan man who disagrees with the protests.

A small but impassioned group gathered calling for an end to U.S. involvement in Venezuela.

“This is like a time machine. Like it’s 2003 and we’re back in Iraq. Come and take the oil. Haven’t we learned from this before?” said Remy Kayai of Fountain Hill, a member of Lehigh Valley Stands Up.

The protestors plead for peace over what they describe as American Imperialism.

Many want Nicolas Maduro and his wife returned to Venezuela.

They’re also calling for no further U.S. action in the nation.

“This is not about average Americans. The oil companies donated over a billion dollars to get him re-elected,” Kayai said. “This is just him paying back his buddies. That’s what this is about. So, you’re asking me what I want? I want people to see him for who he really is. That he’s the con-man-in chief.”

They call the rally a show of solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

Felix Seijas, a personal banker from Allentown who left Venezuela 26 years ago, calls the protesters misguided.

“To me, they’re wasting their time. As a Venezuelan, they’re wasting their time. It already happened,” Seijas said. “Chinese people are working the oil in Venezuela right now. They are controlling it. You go to a gas station, or the mine, there are people from China. There are people from Russia working in Venezuela. The United States was in Venezuela more than 27 years ago.”

Back in Bethlehem, protestors look for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Venezuela and a U.S. foreign policy rooted in respect for sovereignty.

“Trump has so much power now and it’s really scary, so here we are,” said Mimi Lange, an 86-year-old woman from Bethlehem living with cancer. “Standing here, saying peace, please. We need peace.”

Protestors say they will be back to protest military escalation in Latin America, moving forward, every Thursday, at locations across Bethlehem.